This newsletter is available in alternate formats on request. |
|
|
|
Celebrating Manitoba Access Awareness Week |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Recognized the last week of May each year, Manitoba Access Awareness Week runs May 31 to June 6, 2026. Originally recognized in the 1980s, this weeklong awareness celebration promotes accessibility and inclusion. It also acknowledges the people who are working to prevent, identify and remove barriers to accessibility, while also raising awareness about accessibility issues within the province that affect people with disabilities and many others. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In celebration of Manitoba Access Awareness Week, the Manitoba Accessibility Office will be hosting a free webinar and you're invited to attend. |
|
|
|
Artificial Intelligence on Our Terms: Navigating the Opportunities and Risks of AI |
|
|
Artificial Intelligence is already influencing our interactions, what information we are exposed to, and many of the critical decisions in our lives. AI favours and replicates the average. Disability denotes difference from the average or majority. This presents both life-changing opportunities, but also extreme risks for disabled people. Join the Manitoba Accessibility Office for this webinar, as we hear from Jutta Treviranus, Director of the Inclusive Design Research Centre (IDRC) and professor in the faculty of Design at OCAD University in Toronto. In this presentation she will discuss how you can mitigate the risks and take advantage of the opportunities of AI. |
|
|
|
|
|
This webinar will have accessibility measures such as American Sign Language interpretation and closed captioning. |
|
|
A recording of each webinar will also be available on AccessibilityMB.ca to those unable to participate in real-time. |
|
|
|
Accessible Outdoor Spaces Survey Now Closed |
|
|
Thank you to everyone that took the time to share their feedback on the current state of outdoor spaces in Manitoba. The feedback and input received is valued and appreciated.
Results from the survey will be tabulated, reviewed and used to help guide the further development of the Accessible Outdoor Spaces Standard Regulation. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This new accessibility standard aims to create a path for accessible, barrier-free and inclusive outdoor spaces. It will use the principles of universal accessibility to build a Manitoba that is accessible to everyone. |
|
|
to learn more about the development of the fifth accessibility standard, the Accessible Outdoor Spaces Standard Regulation. |
|
|
|
|
|
Feedback processes help organizations and businesses in Manitoba to identify and remove barriers to accessibility. They can also provide a way for the public to comment on great initiatives and service. |
|
|
Two of the enacted accessibility regulations currently in force for all organizations in Manitoba require businesses and organizations to have a process for the public to give feedback about accessibility. |
|
|
|
|
What are the Requirements? |
|
|
An organization's feedback process must be suitable for people with disabilities. Once feedback has been provided, organizations need to document the resulting actions arising from the feedback (e.g., actions taken to resolve the complaint) and make that information available to the individual upon request. |
|
|
What can my organization do? |
|
|
Your organization must track any actions taken as a result of feedback received. As a staff member in your organization, you can help by: |
|
|
Telling service recipients about the feedback process and how they can comment in writing or in a way that is accessible for them. Taking note of any feedback you receive in person and sharing it with your manager. If the feedback involves a request for follow-up, telling service recipients about the anticipated waiting period for receiving information about what the organization did in response to the feedback.
|
|
|
Remember: There are many ways people access goods and services and information because of their differing abilities to see, hear and understand. Aside from being legally required, removing barriers within your organization and presenting information in a variety of ways will make these experiences more accessible for everyone. |
|
|
|
Accessible Housing - Inclusive First Nations Community Member Survey |
|
|
Indigenous Disability Canada (IDC) through their "Accessible Housing - Inclusive First Nations" project is conducting research to better understand accessibility and housing needs in First Nations communities. This survey focuses on accessible housing, community accessibility and opportunities for future engagement. |
|
|
|
|
Learn About Manitoba's Accessibility Regulations |
|
|
The Manitoba Accessibility Office is hosting a series of educational webinars. Join and learn more about The Accessibility for Manitobans Act and its accessibility standards. |
|
|
|
May 19, 2026: Creating Accessible Documents September 22, 2026: Understanding Service Animals Accessibility in Manitoba November 17, 2026: Driving Inclusion: Understanding Manitoba's Accessible Transportation Standard Regulation
|
|
|
Webinars will be hosted virtually on Zoom from 1 to 2 p.m. and will feature accessibility measures such as American Sign Language interpretation (ASL) and live closed captioning. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
